Question

A researcher is evaluating the expression of p53 in cells she is culturing in the laboratory. She notices that in a small group of cells, high levels of phosphorylated p53 occur in the nuclei. What can she deduce about these cells?

Answer 1

p53 gene is an important gene that regulates the proper functioning of the cell. This gene plays an important role in the cell cycle progression and acts as genome guardian.

Any mutation in p53 leads to the formation of the different types of cancer cells. The p53 gene is activated by teh phosphorylation at the particular sites. High levels of phosphorylated p53 in the cell indicates that the cells DNA is highly damaged and mutated.